Cortez will host a series of community events in late September.
Festivities begin Friday, Sept. 12, with the rescheduled First Friday Movie in the Park at Montezuma Park, starting just after 8 p.m. The event, postponed from Sept. 5 due to rain, features “The Minecraft Movie.” A second movie night, showing “Lilo and Stitch,” is set for Friday, Oct. 3.
The Cortez Public Library and Public Arts Advisory Committee are hosting the events. Attendees are asked to leave tents, canopies and pets at home. A full schedule is available at www.facebook.com/CortezLibrary/events.
On Saturday, Sept. 27, the Cortez Police Department will hold its annual Bike Rodeo and Helmet Giveaway at the Cortez Farmers Market, 601 N. Mildred Road, from 8 a.m. to noon. The first 50 elementary-aged children will receive free helmets. A bike safety course will teach safe riding and obstacle navigation. Helmets are first come, first served.
Also on Sept. 27, Oktoberfest Cortez debuts at Parque de Vida with free children’s activities sponsored by the Cortez Recreation Center. Events include pretzel coloring at noon, sack races from 1 to 1:45 p.m., ring toss and cornhole at 2 p.m., an egg walk race from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m., and a bubble party at 4:30 p.m.
To close the month, the City of Cortez and Montezuma-Cortez School District will host a Safe Routes to School drop-in meeting Tuesday, Sept. 30, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Mesa Elementary School gym. Presentations at 4:30, 5 and 5:30 p.m. will outline planned sidewalk and road improvements near the school. Time for questions and feedback will follow each session.
“While not the focus of this community meeting, community members interested in providing feedback about future street/sidewalk improvements and multimodal transportation are encouraged to attend,” the city said.
The project is funded by a $750,000 Colorado Department of Transportation grant awarded in 2022. Designs target enhancements along Seventh and South Cedar streets. A post-meeting synopsis and digital feedback options will be available.
Part of the national Safe Routes to School initiative launched in the 1990s, the program promotes walking and biking for kindergarten through eighth grade students. More information is available at www.cortezco.gov/927/safe-routes-to-school.
